Sanitation Worker Admits Demanding Cash To Collect Resident’s Garbage

RAHWAY — A sanitation worker from Rahway pleaded guilty last week after an investigation revealed that he was taking money from a resident on his route, Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow said.

Over the course of several months, Jeremy Direnzo, 25, who was employed by the Rahway public works department, refused to remove garbage unless a resident on his route paid him cash, said Assistant Prosecutor Bart East who prosecuted the case.

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The removal of the resident’s trash was part of Direnzo’s job responsibilities and he should not have asked for additional payments, said East.

The payments were brought to the attention of the Rahway Police Department in November 2010 after a resident came forward with information about the payments.

Direnzo was charged with a third degree count of accepting an unlawful benefit by public servant for official behavior. Under the terms of the plea, Direnzo had to forfeit his job with Rahway and will be sentenced to a probationary term on May 20.